Improvement in potato-diggers



Patented June 9,1874.

1. C. HEWITT. Potato-Diggers..

UNITED STATES PATENT 'QFFICE.

JOHN G. HEWITT, OF PENNS GROVE, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN POTATO-DIGGERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 151,778, dated June 9,1874; application filed December 22, 1873.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN G. HEWITT, of

Penns Grove, in the county of Salem and erence being had to theaccompanying drawin gs, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of myinventlon. Fig. 2 is a diagram, showing the manner of dividing a sheetof rolled steel to form blanks for the shares. Fig. 3 is a sectionalplan, showing the construction of the rotating cutter. Fig. 4 is an endelevation of the finished share. a

This improvement relates to that class of potato-diggers particularlyadapted to the digging of sweet potatoes, and, therefore, provided withcutters to sever the vines in advance of the share; and it consists,first, in the construction of said cutters, and the provision forexcluding sand and grit from the axis of said cutter; second, in theform and manner of attaching the share.

That others may fully understand my invention, I will particularlydescribe it.

The frame of my machine is composed of two cast-iron side pieces orrunners, A A, curved upward at their forward ends, and joined togetherby cross-rods B. Handles O O are secured at their front ends to theupturned ends of the runners A A, and are supported upon the rear endsof said runners by standard rods D D. A draft-rod, E, is fixed to theforward part of each runner A, and may be moved up or down thereon, asmay be required, to adjust the line of draft. The runners A are eachprovided with a circular cutter, F, mounted upon acentral pivot, G, uponwhich it may rotate as the implement advances.

The share. is constructed from a triangular piece, H, of sheet metal,the ends h of said sheet being bent up at right angles to the centralportion, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the

pivot upon which the share may be adjusted to give a greater or lessinclination to the share, the bolt through the hole at the end of 71.having, in the runner-elbow a, several holes for its reception, to varythe inclination of the share, as described. The runners A I make veryheavy, so that, by weight alone, they will ordinarily be able to forcethe rotary cutters into the ground, and thereby insure the severing ofthe vines. To this end said runners are made to weigh about fifty poundseach. They slide upon the ground like sledrunners, and thereby press allthe vines close to the ground, and hold them firmly while the cuttersare acting. The cutter fhas upon each of its sides, and surrounding thecenter thereof, a disk or re-enforce, 1'. This re-enforce r is groovedalong its edge to receive an elastic washer or guard, t, which, beingslightly compressed between the side of the colterblade and the surfaceof the frame on the one side, and the head of the pivot-screw on theother, completely closes the joint between said blade and the adjoiningstationary parts, and effectually excludes all grit or sand. Asole-piece, w, is bolted to the bottom of the share, and projectsbackward therefrom in two parts, one of which inclines upward, andserves to break up the earth and separate the tubers therefrom.

In operation, the inclination of the point of the share downward beingadjustable by means the rotary cutters F, of the grooved re-enforee' rand elastic washer t, for the purpose set forth.

2. The share H, constructed as described, and provided with holesii,combined with the runner-elbows a (0, whereby said share is pivoted tosaid elbows, and adjustable thereon in the manner described.

In testimony that I claim the above as my invention witness my hand.

Witnesses: JOHN C. HEVVlTIX,

R. D. 0. SMITH, L. A. BUCK.

